top of page

About Sally Rippin

Sally Rippin is Australia’s highest-selling female author and has written over 100 books for children and young adults, many of them award-winning.

As the current Australian Children's Laureate (2024-2025), Sally is travelling around the country to chat about the ways we can share stories and support children who might struggle to read.

Sally writes stories with heart and characters that resonate with children, parents and teachers alike. Her widely popular books are beloved across the globe, and have sold more than ten million copies in eighteen countries.

A mum of three boys, Sally is particularly passionate about advocacy for kids who may have ADHD, Dyslexia or learning challenges. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, and is currently working on several books for children as well as adapting her work for the screen.

Highlights

On 7 February 2024, Sally was named the 2024–25 Australian Children's Laureate.
Sally's theme as Laureate is 'All kids can be readers!'.

Big Dog is a Big Help (2023), Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
SHORTLISTED as a Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book for Early Childhood

Come Over to My House written with Eliza Hull and illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett (2022), Hardie Grant Children's Publishing

WINNER of the DANZ Award for Picture Books (Diversity in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand)WINNER of ‘Best Conversation Starter’ category in the 2023 Bookstagang Picture Book AwardsSHORTLISTED as a Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book for Early ChildhoodSHORTLISTED for the Panda Book AwardsSHORTLISTED for the Speech Pathology Australia 2023 Book of the Year AwardsBest Picture Book of the Year (2022) as voted by Readings Staff

In 2021 Sally received the Graham Davey Citation.
The Graham Davey Citation is named in honour of the 20 years’ service that Graham Davey provided YABBA as our volunteer President.
The YABBA Council presents the Graham Davey Citation each year to a book or person that through craft or contribution has made an impact on Australian Children’s literature.

★ Billie B Brown (2010-2024), Hardie Grant Egmont & Children's Publishing:
YABBA Shortlist for Fiction for Younger Readers 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012
YABBA Winner for Fiction for Younger Readers 2014
KOALA Winner for Fiction for Younger Readers 2015
KOALA Shortlist for Fiction for Younger Readers 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012

Polly and Buster (2017-2019), Hardie Grant Egmont
YABBA Shortlist for Fiction for Younger Readers 2020, 2018
KOALA Shortlist for Fiction for Younger Readers 2020

​★ Angel Creek by Sally Rippin (2011), Text Publishing
NSW Premier's Literacy Awards (Younger Readers) Shortlist 2012

​★ Mannie and the Long Brave Day, Martine Murray (2009), Allen & Unwin
Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Children's Fiction) Shortlist 2010

Fang Fang’s Chinese New Year by Sally Rippin (1996), Omnibus Books
CBCA Crichton Award Winner 1997
bottom of page